Bengaluru: In addition to traffic snarls, the harried commuters in Bengaluru also have to contend with deafening noise of modified silencers used by some bikers.

The problem is not limited to traffic junctions or main roads, but the residential areas and schools are also not free from it. The bikers are least bothered about the implications of the piercing sound of the silencers in these areas.

In order to put an end to this menace, the RTO last year came up with a novel solution asking the vehicle owners to smash the silencers with a stone.

“We are enforcing the rules of the Central Motor Vehicles Act. We seize the vehicles found to be violating the rules. We are continuing with the drive of smashing the silencers and get it replaced immediately,” said K.T. Halaswamy, Deputy Commissioner for Transport and senior RTO officer.

On being asked if any action has been taken against the workshops that carry out such modifications, he said the department has no control over them.

However, the experts believe that the problem is increasing with each passing day and it disturbs the silent zones, which includes hospitals and schools. According to the 2016 November record of the Bengaluru Traffic Police, there were 4,593,558 two-wheelers in the city.

“In the silent zones, noise levels should not increase 50 dB during day time and 40 dB at night. Royal Enfield Bullet motorcycles with modified engines that zoom on these roads create more noise, affecting the concentration of the children in the classrooms,” said Mahesh Kashyap, a consultant with the Centre for Sustainable Development.

“The increasing decibel aggravates the problem of the people suffering from high blood pressure,” he added.

The commuters too are of the opinion that serious action should be taken against the owners who ride with modified silencers, as it breaks the concentration of the walkers and other commuters.

“Since we do not have any mechanism to measure the piercing decibel of the silencers, most of the riders fearlessly ply their two wheelers. Any workshop would charge you somewhere between Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. The piercing sound irritates while driving,” said Kidyeb Chakma, a student with Azim Premji University.

According to the recent amendments made in the Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill, tampering with the exhausts fitted to the vehicle by the manufacturer will attract a fine of Rs 5,000 for the first offence and Rs 10,000 for the second offence along with a three-month jail.